The Problem: 

Less than half of these patients will not receive the recommended osteoporosis care following their fractures.  A fragility fracture is a key predictor of future fractures.

The Solution:

Help close the osteoporosis treatment gap by establishing a systems-based approach at your institution.  Own the Bone is a quality improvement program to address the osteoporosis treatment gap and prevent subsequent fragility fractures.  Own the Bone provides a simple, easy-to-use tool to enable hospitals, medical centers, and practices to establish a bone health program or fracture liaison service (FLS) to:

  • Identify, evaluate and treat fragility fracture patients over 50 at risk of osteoporosis.
  • Coordinate patient care among different specialties and physicians for each patient.

Through a clinically-proven, web-based patient registry and 10 prevention measures, Own the Bone seeks to:

  • Close the post-fracture treatment gap documented in the RAND and NCQA studies as it applies to physician treatment recommendations
  • Change physician and patient behavior to reduce the incidence of future fractures and impact of osteoporosis
  • The program focuses on osteoporosis diagnosis and cares following a fracture, rather than primary osteoporosis prevention.

FLS Programs Target Patients Likely to Have Subsequent Fractures

Fragility fractures are an independent predictor of future fractures. Patients who have had prior fractures are at a higher risk for future fractures. In particular, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with a prior fracture have twice the risk of subsequent fracture.

Fragility fractures…

Represent a Significant Societal Problem

Fragility fractures have become nearly epidemic in the United States among older adults with over 2 million fractures each year – more than heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer combined.

Continue to Increase

More than 53 million Americans already have osteoporosis or are at high risk due to low bone mass. Due to an aging population, the number of Americans with osteoporosis or low bone density is expected to increase significantly. Up to one-half of all women and up to one-quarter of all men will suffer fragility fractures in their lifetimes.

Result in Enormous Costs

The cost of osteoporosis-related fractures to patients, their families, and the healthcare system was $57 billion in 2018. It is predicted that osteoporosis will be responsible for over 3.2 million fractures annually by 2040.

Are Undertreated

Less than half of patients receive the recommended osteoporosis care following a fracture. Only 9% of female Medicare beneficiaries received BMD testing within six months after a new osteoporotic fracture.

Provide a "Teachable Moment"

A fragility fracture is a sentinel event that should trigger appropriate clinical attention directed at reducing the risk of future subsequent fractures and provide opportunities for clinicians to educate patients, fellow physicians and other healthcare providers about the importance of bone health and osteoporosis treatment.

Cause an Unnecessary and Devastating Toll

Nearly 30% of patients who suffer a hip fracture die within a year. Those who do survive often experience a loss of independence and may require long-term nursing home care.

Are the First Sign of Poor Bone Health

Patients with osteoporotic fractures are at a significantly increased risk of subsequent fractures. According to a recent analysis of female Medicare beneficiaries, the annual rate of subsequent fractures was over three times the rate of new osteoporotic fractures.